Although students only have one more week left this semester, studies can’t rest yet. Finals are one of the most stressful times of year for a high school student, and ensuring you know how to manage your time is the best way to get the results you want. Here are 10 study hacks to help get through this week.
Create a Study Schedule
During finals week, it can be stressful knowing all the tests you have to be taking. To help ease the stress, it’s best to plan your studying. Break your study schedule into chunks, and use study tools like planners to help allocate specific times for each subject. Some free planners that students recommend are MinimaList (IOS), Notion (Android & IOS), and Google Calendar.
Active Recall
Instead of passively rereading/rewriting notes, test yourself regularly. Creating flashcards, quizzing yourself, or summarizing topics without looking at your notes helps you reinforce memorization, especially when cramming. Writing everything you know about the subject you are studying without using notes, finding your weak points from there, or imagining teaching the material in the simplest way possible, without looking at notes are some good techniques to try.
Use Your Resources
If you are taking an AP course, it’s more likely that you will have a lot more study resources available to you online than your teacher gives you. Using resources that you find elsewhere can help remove the burden of finding practice tests and easier material to study than your teacher gives you.
Clubs
Many clubs at Plano Senior are offering study sessions and review guides in their Google Classrooms. For instance, SOAR provides semester reviews and study sessions created by students taking that course. However, most courses offering study material are for AP level courses, but can still be helpful for honors and on the level.
Prioritize Weak Areas
During finals, especially if you’re cramming, you probably don’t have the luxury to review the whole semester. On this note, it’s best if you allocate extra time to subjects and topics that you find the most challenging.
Take Breaks
Using techniques to take breaks helps you stay focused while studying. Work in 25-minute intervals of focused study, followed by five-minute breaks. After four cycles of this, take a 20-minute break. This is called the ‘Pomodoro’ technique, which can help prevent burnout and help maintain concentration on a singular topic.
Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water throughout the days of finals. Eat brain-friendly foods, like blueberries, almonds, and dark chocolate to help boost your focus and memory. Also, avoiding sugary drinks and junk food can help with your overall health and memory during finals.
Sleep Well
Avoid pulling all-nighters. Aim for a well-rested night before your exams to help your brain consolidate what you’ve learned. There comes a time when studying throughout the night does more harm than good.
Spaced Repetition
Applying spaced repetition allows information to truly be consolidated in your memory. Spacing out study sessions can significantly improve your memory for the long term. Apps like Knot, Quizlet, and Anki all provide spaced repetition features, also helping you adjust to your specified exam time.
Relax
The final week of the first semester is stressful, but knowing when to take breaks and not to burden yourself with pressure and procrastination is ultimately the way to truly relax. Remember, your grades don’t define you, and doing poorly on a test isn’t life-ruining.
While finals week can feel overwhelming, using study methods and hacks that allow you the most results in the least amount of time is a good t way to pass your classes. Most importantly, remember that your grades don’t define you, and taking care of yourself is just as important as these exams.
